They speak of a Postal Service in “financial free fall” — blaming the Internet and workers. But they omitted the factor that’s caused 95 percent of the red ink this fiscal year — $6.2 billion of $6.5 billion — and almost all losses in recent years. The 2006 congressional mandate that the Postal Service pre-fund retiree health benefits for the next 75 years, and do so in 10 years, is an unrealistic obligation no other agency or company faces.

In fiscal 2012’s first quarter, for example, the Postal Service announced a $200 million operational profit delivering the mail — but a paper loss exceeding $3 billion. Why? A pre-funding payment exceeding $3 billion.

We know that fixing this won’t solve all issues. More people, for example, are paying bills online. But fixing it would, according to USPS data, eliminate most of the red ink.

In addition, by removing the crisis atmosphere, it would let stakeholders — the USPS, mailing industry, employees, legislators, federal regulators — craft a business strategy to meet the needs of an evolving society.

Degrading service — as in the current Senate and House bills — isn’t a business plan. Instead, it’s a path toward dismantling the unique network and driving customers away.

Consider the push to end Saturday delivery. It would save 2 percent of the budget — by stopping 17 percent of service. Moreover, it jeopardizes the future. The Postal Service credited the sharp rise in e-commerce packages for its $200 million profit. The best day to deliver packages: Saturday, when most people are home.